Tire chain



July 7, 1931. w. .1.v BRoKs TIRE CHAIN Filed March 1l. 1929 Patented July 7, 1931 A UNiTED STATES WILLIAM J. Beooxs, or nns'ivioiivns,` kIowA f TIRE CHAIN,l v

Application filed :March 11,1929. seria; No. "$46,178. f" f The object of my invention is to provide a tire chain of simple, durable and comparative-ly inexpensive construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tire chain especially adapted to prey l A illustrated in Figuresl and'2iof the drawings, the two legs ventv skidding by arranging portions of the cross chains at angles instead of extending straight across the tread of the tire. c

More particularly, it is my object to piro- EO vide in connection with the angularly arranged cross chains, a linkof special construction adaptedto be connected with them at three points in such a way that this link stands in an upright positionon the tire and if?) thus more effectively acts to prevent skidding.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists inthe construction, arrangement and combination of the various Y 2'? parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fullv set forth, pointed out in my claims,

andv illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a lay-out view of a portion of a tire chain embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the special link used in the construction thereof; and

Figure 3 illustrates the tire chain applied to the tire of an automobile wheel.

On the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference character A to indicate the tire of an automobile wheel in connection with which, my improved type of tire chain is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The chain itself consists of side chains B and cross chains C. The side chains B may be of ordinary link construction and provided with fastening devices of any desired type, whereby the entire tire chain may be applied to the tire A.

The cross chains C consist ofangularly arranged chainsA 10, special connecting links 12 and twisted connecting links 14,. The twisted links 14 and A16 are connected with the side chains B by links 18 and withthe angularly arranged cross chains by rings or the like 20. f

Thelinks of the cross chains 10 may be of A cross bar 12cis provi chains 10 extend through the in an upright position. p By arrangingkv the special link in such a the quarter-twist'type'andthe links 14 and 16 ofthe half-twist type'or of any 'other desirable type, wh ich,-may operate efficiently to produce a strongand serviceable tire'chain. E The special links 12 are Vshaped', as'cle'arof the link beingfindicated as *12a and 12b.

Y 4 ed, varound'which vthe links 16 extend. The links-of the cross y legs 12a" and 12b ofthe special link 125 Inrwiii be noaa that the'iinks i12, when viewed lfrom above, as vshownin Figu'relfl', Vso that they appear being IV-shaped, will 'stand upright on the treadl off the -tire and thus serve as a projection-to engage in mud for the purpose of forming amore eilicient mud lugfto aidiin the traction power-ofthe tire to which the chain is applied. i Thislisfone ofthe desirable feature'sof tio my chain construction vand the Ysp'ecialflink v 12 lwill stay in the desired upright position,

due to its shape and to the 4angular cross;

chains 10 extending atan angle so as to exert a pull in conjunction 'with the .links- 16 on thevspecial links, which will maintain them way that the cross chains are connectedtofit at three point-s, the/cross chai-ns (which of coursewill be taut whenvr applied to a tire) will serve to maintain the special link in the desired position where it will always remain upstanding on the tread ofthe tire.

It will be noted that the special linksv 12 are bent at an angle of approximately ninety degrees, and this angle I have found to be the one most resistant to side skidding. The angle, of course, can be varied which will change the effectiveness of the link for the purpose of resisting side skidding, as may be desired.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose` of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical lob equivalents, which may be reasonably ineluded within their scope.

' I claim as my invention:

1. In a tire chain, a pair of side chains, an- 5 gularly arranged cross chains and al closed link connection included in said cross chains, said closed link .connection being `V-shaped by berjtdig'gtl'ie "lirilewhereby ztwo Xl-shaped legs are formed, one of said legs being in 1 contact with a tire to which the tire chain is ap lied and the other nonebei-ng spaced there rom. N

2. In a tire chain construction inclndin'g l side chains and cross chains, a special link,l to l5 at least three points of Which, lp'ai'rt's of the ressehains are connected, said. special link @bei/ng formed of a; pair of parallel vpartsin planes-andarianged to be; retained p lgyjthefeonnect'ionfof said-.crossclia-ins :to "2 .threepoints With-` one of `'said yparts in oontacttvivithgatireto which the tire chain is `the other part thereof Ispaced from saidtire. Y TQ, attirechan'linkicomprisinga link hav- 25 mgatleast three," connecting gpoints, said link fbeinggso bent that ,-fparal-lel t :side portions thereof lie in intersecting planes and when glie-v .linflgisYV connected with. a least three cross e elements ofa tire chain, one of said side 4 mortiin s, contactingwith the surface of the to-vwhlchfthechai-n is applied and the @ther/of saidsides is'retained spaced thereifm, t ,nAjfhgwAgtirechain Ulink comprisingla closed "'35 rectangular shaped link having one rhal-f thereoffbent ont of the plane of the other' hal'f whereby the two halvesv form' the legs of a V, L,snaidri-link,-'fili'en" assembled ink a tire chain and spositioedyon A'atire, :having one `of its V- "'40 shape lsides contact-withthe tire and its other fshapedside spaced therefrom. p 45, 2A2tire` chain link' comprising Qa rodY of material formed into afsnbstanti'allyrectan- V A Vgola,I; ..l,nlk,-one-halA--of "said lirklbeifng bent '4b gutfof; thefvplane vofqthe other half thereof, whereby it assumes a= Vfformation-and` aconpectorg portion larranged at the 'apex of such yhformati'on," thek ends ,off said rod of material bei 0 co'nne-ted with lintermediate Ypor- `50 tions ofntlie rodfand' at thefends ofsaid con- ""wrapqrtions. i .t e

' Des Moines,Iowa, March 1, 19,29, VILLIAM J. BROOKS. 

